Views From The Top - Forums - General Backcountryhttp://www.vftt.org/forums/
- general forum for non-Northeast specific questions, such as gearenThu, 24 May 2018 18:53:25 GMTvBulletin60http://www.vftt.org/forums/images/misc/rss.pngViews From The Top - Forums - General Backcountryhttp://www.vftt.org/forums/
http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?59829-Don-t-start-a-Forest-Fire-it-could-cost-you!&goto=newpost
Tue, 22 May 2018 18:14:49 GMTRepaying for a Helicopter rescue may cost you but not as much as starting a Forest Fire!
https://www.yahoo.com/news/judge-teen-must-repay-37m-starting-oregon-wildfire-170505180.htmlRepaying for a Helicopter rescue may cost you but not as much as starting a Forest Fire!https://www.yahoo.com/news/judge-tee...170505180.html
]]>General Backcountryskiguyhttp://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?59829-Don-t-start-a-Forest-Fire-it-could-cost-you!Hiker attacked by “pack” of wild tickshttp://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?59825-Hiker-attacked-by-“pack”-of-wild-ticks&goto=newpost
Sat, 19 May 2018 22:38:45 GMThttp://www.wmur.com/article/nature-group-postpones-walk-after-leader-swarmed-with-ticks/20738033http://www.wmur.com/article/nature-g...ticks/20738033
]]>General Backcountryrichardhttp://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?59825-Hiker-attacked-by-“pack”-of-wild-ticksMtn. Biker killed by Cougarhttp://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?59824-Mtn-Biker-killed-by-Cougar&goto=newpost
Sat, 19 May 2018 22:28:52 GMThttp://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/05/19/cougar-attack-in-washington-kills-1-biker-injures-another.htmlhttp://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/05/19...s-another.html
]]>General Backcountryrichardhttp://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?59824-Mtn-Biker-killed-by-CougarHappy 100th Birthday, White Mountain National Foresthttp://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?59818-Happy-100th-Birthday-White-Mountain-National-Forest&goto=newpost
Thu, 17 May 2018 02:44:33 GMThttp://www.wmur.com/article/white-mountain-national-forest-established-100-years-ago-wednesday/20718494
This was news to me.
Timhttp://www.wmur.com/article/white-mo...esday/20718494

This was news to me.

Tim
]]>General Backcountrybikehikeskifishhttp://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?59818-Happy-100th-Birthday-White-Mountain-National-ForestGrand Canyon - Phantom Ranch trip planninghttp://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?59815-Grand-Canyon-Phantom-Ranch-trip-planning&goto=newpost
Wed, 16 May 2018 00:05:43 GMTWe're looking at a Grand Canyon trip, hiking down to Phantom Ranch and spending two nights down there, as part of a week long trip. I'm looking for people's experiences with the reservation system for Phantom since we are limited to a single week in April based on school vacation schedules. It looks like we've already missed the April 2019 reservation cycle so this would have to be for April 2020, with reservation required by April 2019.

Is two nights down at Phantom the right amount? We'll probably spend a night before at the South Rim, and then a few nights after at the South Rim or travel a bit further afield.
]]>General BackcountryDavid Metskyhttp://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?59815-Grand-Canyon-Phantom-Ranch-trip-planningAfter the fire. Dilley Cliff Trail permanently CLOSED!http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?59814-After-the-fire-Dilley-Cliff-Trail-permanently-CLOSED!&goto=newpost
Mon, 14 May 2018 15:55:48 GMThttps://forestsociety.org/forest-journal-column/wake-firehttps://forestsociety.org/forest-jou...lumn/wake-fire
]]>General Backcountryskiguyhttp://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?59814-After-the-fire-Dilley-Cliff-Trail-permanently-CLOSED!Hiking under the influence (of electronics)http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?59801-Hiking-under-the-influence-(of-electronics)&goto=newpost
Wed, 09 May 2018 04:18:54 GMTRecently I spent time with trekking guides. Some of them spent a lot of time on their cell phones **while hiking**. I found that disturbing for several reasons. First, as a simple matter of safety. Second, out of concern my guide would be less alert to surroundings, less able to fulfill his...Recently I spent time with trekking guides. Some of them spent a lot of time on their cell phones **while hiking**. I found that disturbing for several reasons. First, as a simple matter of safety. Second, out of concern my guide would be less alert to surroundings, less able to fulfill his guiding responsibilities to me, the client. Third, personal aesthetics, as I prefer to be tuned into the environment while hiking, to hear the approaching sound of a water source when thirsty, catch sight of an animal for a split second, hear the wind in the pines, catch nuances of terrain that help with map reading, and so on. I grew up without cell phones and minimize their use in the outdoors. Of course this is a personal trait and I recognize there are many who use electronics frequently wherever they are. I see this partly as a generational divide between those who grew up with/without cell phones.

I asked one of my guides what he was doing on his cell phone. He said he was staying in touch with friends and clients.

Some of the guides wear a small speaker attached to their pack strap that plays music. I found that offensive as their music drifted into my ears when I would prefer the sounds of nature.

My experience with the guides was in China. I should mention that in China, many people carry radios or devices in order to play music as they walk, although this is more common among city and park walkers then in the back country.

But now let me bring the issue home to VFTT.

Last fall on the Long Trail I passed a young, solo thru-hiker with full pack wearing ear buds. I don't know what she was listening to. Music? Audio book? I paused and asked her a question about the trail ahead. She removed the buds and kindly answered my question, then moved on. In this case, the offense was personal, similar to my third point above. Why would someone tune out while hiking? To each his own, but I still find it hard to understand.

I'm curious what posters at vftt are seeing in New England and New York. Is the Long Trail hiker an isolated case? Are you seeing increasing use of cell phones and earphones **while hiking** among day hikers, thru-hikers, AMC staff, hut caretakers? Are you concerned?
]]>General BackcountrySanbuhttp://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?59801-Hiking-under-the-influence-(of-electronics)Alternative to molefoam, 2nd skinhttp://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?59800-Alternative-to-molefoam-2nd-skin&goto=newpost
Tue, 08 May 2018 05:12:03 GMTSeeing me patching blisters, a fellow hiker offered me a pad and said it would work wonders. I had never seen that kind before, and when I tried it, I agreed it did indeed work wonders. After 10 days of hiking it still worked well and was not affected by moisture. The pad seemed to combine the...Seeing me patching blisters, a fellow hiker offered me a pad and said it would work wonders. I had never seen that kind before, and when I tried it, I agreed it did indeed work wonders. After 10 days of hiking it still worked well and was not affected by moisture. The pad seemed to combine the best aspects of molefoam and second skin, just sturdier. As best I recall, the name on the package was "Comspeedo" or something similar. My fellow hiker had a very Scandinavian appearance, so I figure it must be a European brand. Is anyone familiar with it?
]]>General BackcountrySanbuhttp://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?59800-Alternative-to-molefoam-2nd-skinGlucose Tablets / Supplementshttp://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?59799-Glucose-Tablets-Supplements&goto=newpost
Mon, 07 May 2018 14:55:17 GMTWith the research I've been doing lately for the person I've been hiking with that has diabetes I've noticed that many drugstores and websites offer glucose supplements in tablet/powder/gel form to treat emergency situations by getting glucose directly into the bloodstream for quick absorption. Apparently a 15g serving of pure glucose quickly reverse the ill effects of low blood sugar.

So I guess I'm wondering why athletes don't use these products or whether they really are any different than other types of commercial powders, gels and chews. Why would you make a product that has to be digested and broken down to make glucose when you can just take glucose? I assume there are high quality and low quality products in this category just like any other and there is marketing hype with something even this simple. Is it that the glucose triggers the insulin response faster than other sugars but don't directly contribute to energy production any faster? I bought a small package of the tablets to start carrying for emergencies but for the hell of it I went several hours not eating or drinking anything and then chewed 3 of the tablets (15g) to see what kind of effect it had on my hunger, alertness, etc. They are basically just big sweet tarts and I didn't need to drink water to get them down, which I like for emergencies. They were delicious actually (I'm sure there is some sort of flavoring added to them). The labels I've seen for most of these products doesn't specifically say "glucose", just carbohydrates. So why fructose or maltodexterin or some other form of sugar when the body just makes it into glucose anyway?

What am I missing here? I'm not suggesting I'd ditch all of my food choices and start bringing thousands of tablets on hikes but to counteract fatigue or keep energy up during strenuous periods these would seem to be a good option. And they seem like they'd work year round without any sort of special handling (i.e. won't freeze solid, don't need water to take them, etc). Wouldn't this also be useful for other things besides diabetes like hypothermia, etc? Seems like a good item for the first aid/survival kit if nothing else.
]]>General BackcountryDayTriphttp://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?59799-Glucose-Tablets-Supplementshttp://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?59788-Is-Exploring-New-Hampshire-s-White-Mountains-by-Wilderness-Map-Co-the-best-map-ever&goto=newpost
Wed, 02 May 2018 13:43:44 GMTI think it could be.

This map is nothing short of amazing. Best one I've ever used and seen. I wish they had one for the entirety of NH like this.
Headed to the Black Mountain near Jackson this week, it will come in helpful!
]]>General BackcountrySpencerVThttp://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?59788-Is-Exploring-New-Hampshire-s-White-Mountains-by-Wilderness-Map-Co-the-best-map-everEmpress Snowfieldhttp://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?59783-Empress-Snowfield&goto=newpost
Tue, 01 May 2018 12:38:32 GMTDoes anyone know where this is?
https://unofficialnetworks.com/2018/04/26/video-skiing-the-empress-snowfield-in-new-hampshires-white-mountains/Does anyone know where this is?